About CBC – overview

Chinese Business Chamber (CBC) was founded in June 1998 following increasing demands from the Mauritian Chinese Businessmen and Professionals who found themselves a bit left out, having no one to voice their views or to represent them at business forums and Government level. Furthermore, many diplomatic missions based in Mauritius have expressed difficulties in meeting with local Chinese businessmen whenever they have trade delegations visiting Mauritius. This, in spite of the fact that visually, Chinese people are seen to be a very active component of the local business field.

CBC was therefore set up with the following objectives in mind:

(a) Promote interaction among business persons and professionals.
(b) Facilitate meetings between members and visiting business persons and professionals.
(c) Promote activities, locally and overseas, for the benefit of the business and professional sectors.
(d) Foster links and affiliation with other business and professional associations.
(e) Represent the interests of its members vis à vis governmental and non-governmental authorities.

Since 1998, CBC has organized various trade and investment missions to countries like China, Malaysia, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar and Pakistan. President Sam Nujoma of Namibia even came on a private visit to Mauritius to visit us and was our Guest of Honour for our annual dinner in 1999.

We have signed 10 Memorandum of Understandings with:

– the Guangdong Chinese Chamber of Commerce

– the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia

– the Association of Reunion Businessmen of Chinese origin

– Chamber of Commerce of Industry, Agriculture and Handicraft of Antalaha, Madagascar

– the Groupement of Enterprises of Sava, Madagascar

– Chinese Business Chamber of Madagascar

– the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Beijing

– the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Jilin

– Association of Chinese People for Friendship with the Foreign Countries, Beijing

– Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Pakistan)

Because of our networking and the good relations we have with the various diplomatic missions in Mauritius, we regularly welcome trade and investment delegations from countries like China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Namibia, India, France and U.K.

Today CBC is very proud to represent a group of over 300 businessmen and professionals from the Chinese community.

We are very much aware of the problems within the Chinese Community in Mauritius, especially the generation gap between the old and the young generation. The old generation who has been mostly educated in Chinese schools speak the mother tongue language (Chinese) whereas the young generation which has been educated in French/English schools can only speak French and English.

CBC fortunately regroups a team that makes room for the young, the not so young and the old generation. We are realistic enough to realize that it will take us time to bridge the gap between the generations. Our only consolation is to believe that one day, the future generation will say that we were courageous enough to try something.

The above few lines summed it up the raison d’être of the Chinese Business Chamber and we are patient enough to realize that our ultimate objectives will take time to materialize.